Don't move sixth-graders

Published: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 2:36 p.m.

Editor: I attended Southwest Elementary School to hear the superintendent of Lexington City Schools' proposal on realignment of the elementary schools into K-6 grade and put Lexington Middle under the umbrella of Lexington Senior High School.

They are wanting to move sixth grade down to the elementary schools and have 7-8 grades at LMS (academy as they referred to it) and for the intelligently gifted students, with parental permission, be allowed to walk across the street and take some high school courses, which in my opinion is OK, because that's up to that parent. But with LMS being under the umbrella of the high school, how will that affect other aspects of learning and afterschool activities?

My main concern is moving the sixth grade down to elementary schools. We as a society are starting to become more aware of bullying that's going on in the schools and the effect of the bullying. We are aware of the drugs that are in the school system, and some may or may not be aware of the sexual activity/talk that goes on.

I don't want a 6-year-old to be influenced by the actions of an inappropriate 11- 12-year-old, either hearing them say something inappropriate or seeing something inappropriate.

The speakers kept saying they will keep them separate; how? They'll be in the cafeteria, the halls, the bus and bus stops. What about the "grown" kids who wonder around the halls when they've asked to go to the restroom?

They said what's making the sixth-graders so mature and inappropriate is introducing them to the seven and eighth grade, but in reality 11- and 12-year-olds hormones start growing and then day cares stop taking them and they find themselves home alone to "explore" these new feelings.

I don't want an impressionable young child to be scared to go to school because someone 10 times bigger than them has threatened and/or harassed them or their peers. Usually around 11 and 12 potential gang members start being introduced and groomed for the gang life.

The speakers stated teachers are with students all the time at that level and will watch the students. Even though we tend to think teachers are super human in reality they are just plain human and can't do everything. If that was the case, we wouldn't have bullying going on now as it is.

If a child at that age or any age is scared to go to school they will begin to act out and begin to be worried will I run into this person and not concentrate on work and fall behind.

We as parents need to stand up for what's best for our children, and intermixing someone who still makes mud pies with someone who has the potential to be harmful to our children, mentally or physically, is downright wrong.

Take a stand; email or call any of the Lexington City School Board members or call LCS administrative office at 242-1527.

<p>Editor: I attended Southwest Elementary School to hear the superintendent of Lexington City Schools' proposal on realignment of the elementary schools into K-6 grade and put Lexington Middle under the umbrella of Lexington Senior High School.</p><p>They are wanting to move sixth grade down to the elementary schools and have 7-8 grades at LMS (academy as they referred to it) and for the intelligently gifted students, with parental permission, be allowed to walk across the street and take some high school courses, which in my opinion is OK, because that's up to that parent. But with LMS being under the umbrella of the high school, how will that affect other aspects of learning and afterschool activities?</p><p>My main concern is moving the sixth grade down to elementary schools. We as a society are starting to become more aware of bullying that's going on in the schools and the effect of the bullying. We are aware of the drugs that are in the school system, and some may or may not be aware of the sexual activity/talk that goes on.</p><p>I don't want a 6-year-old to be influenced by the actions of an inappropriate 11- 12-year-old, either hearing them say something inappropriate or seeing something inappropriate.</p><p>The speakers kept saying they will keep them separate; how? They'll be in the cafeteria, the halls, the bus and bus stops. What about the "grown" kids who wonder around the halls when they've asked to go to the restroom?</p><p>They said what's making the sixth-graders so mature and inappropriate is introducing them to the seven and eighth grade, but in reality 11- and 12-year-olds hormones start growing and then day cares stop taking them and they find themselves home alone to "explore" these new feelings.</p><p>I don't want an impressionable young child to be scared to go to school because someone 10 times bigger than them has threatened and/or harassed them or their peers. Usually around 11 and 12 potential gang members start being introduced and groomed for the gang life.</p><p>The speakers stated teachers are with students all the time at that level and will watch the students. Even though we tend to think teachers are super human in reality they are just plain human and can't do everything. If that was the case, we wouldn't have bullying going on now as it is.</p><p>If a child at that age or any age is scared to go to school they will begin to act out and begin to be worried will I run into this person and not concentrate on work and fall behind.</p><p>We as parents need to stand up for what's best for our children, and intermixing someone who still makes mud pies with someone who has the potential to be harmful to our children, mentally or physically, is downright wrong.</p><p>Take a stand; email or call any of the Lexington City School Board members or call LCS administrative office at 242-1527.</p><p>Christi Beckner</p><p>Lexington</p>